Congratulating the country for its monumental achievement, Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization, said, “India has shown the world that there is no such thing as impossible. This is likely the greatest lesson, and the greatest inspiration for the rest of the world.”
Addressing the ‘India’s victory over polio’ event at New Delhi on 11 February 2014, Dr Chan, said, “India’s leadership in polio eradication is widely appreciated and warmly welcomed. The country has shared its experiences, best practices, lessons learned, and expert staff with the remaining endemic countries.”
The event was attended by the President of India, the Prime Minister, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, the President of Rotary International, India Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund and other key polio partner agencies and frontline polio eradicators.
Speaking about Dr Chan’s visit on this special occasion, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India, “Dr Chan has tirelessly spearheaded the global fight against polio, and we are delighted that she is here to share these happy moments with the government and people of India.”
“The entire South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization, led by Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the new WHO Regional Director, is today at the brink of an historic occasion—polio-free certification at the end of March 2014," she added.
Dr Chan highlighted that it was the power of India’s determination to achieve the impossible, to go from the world’s heaviest burden of polio cases to zero, that provided to be decisive factor.
“Viewed against the challenges, India’s achievement is an epic success story, a proof that any country that really wants to can defeat polio,” she said.
Complimenting the government for it is stellar role, Dr Chan, said, “Government ownership of the eradication initiative, at union, state, and district levels, was decisive, as were the billions of dollars poured into the effort by the government.”
DG, WHO attributed ‘a can-do attitude’ as another reason for India’ polio success story, as witnessed by the unwavering dedication of millions of frontline workers.
While facing, arguably, the toughest challenges of any polio-endemic country, India, she pointed out met each problem with creativity and innovation.
“When better systems to support high-quality performance were needed, India built them. With support from the WHO country office, India built its world-class surveillance system,” she elaborated.
Spelling out the important role of surveillance, Dr Chan said that the confidence in this achievement is supported by a world-class surveillance system and a level of vigilance and preparedness ready to manage any imported case as a public health emergency.
“In fact, the surveillance system in India not only meets all international standards for high-quality performance. It surpasses them,” she added.
In her address, Dr Chan also highlighted how India had worked seamlessly with its international partners, including WHO.
Sounding a note of caution, Dr Chan said that the polio-free status of every country remains under threat as long as poliovirus is still circulating anywhere in the world.
However, expressing confidence in India’s abilities, she reassured: “India is fully aware of the need to safeguard its magnificent achievement. Immunization against polio remains high, and emergency preparedness and response plans are in place to respond urgently to any importations.”
Talking about India’s role in global health, Dr Chan, said, “India will continue its role as a global leader as the Polio Endgame is implemented, including through the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine and the stepwise phasing out of oral polio vaccine.”
In her address, Dr Chan also brought out that “in the end, it was the best of human creativity, ingenuity, determination, and perseverance that pushed the poliovirus out of India.”